Hello everyone!
I had a few shandies last night and my joints HURT today. I'm a 33 year old female, otherwise in reasonable health, and I guess I'm a weekend binge drinker (horrible term but there we go!)
How do you guys find alcohol affects you? Has it changed over time? I'm currently on prednisolone and naproxen. Thanks!
I find that alcohol, even one drink, makes my joints play up the next day. My RA is well controlled at the moment but if I have a drink I know I will pay the price the next day and I have found it is cumulative - if I have one drink on one occasion I will just ache the next day but between Christmas and New Year if I have a drink most days the effect will trigger a flare lasting the better part of a week.
Thank you knitter, that's interesting
Yes it does and also over heat . I do drink like you at the weekends. I pick the days I want a good drink . I often think you gotta live and have fun I’m prepared for the consequences .
Thank you, yes this is definitely something to factor in.
For me, it's the alcohol plus MTX that makes me feel so ill. It's not that my joints hurt, more that even one glass of wine leaves me feeling like I've drunk a whole bottle so I've (very) reluctantly had to jack it in. I've found it's cumulative too - I might get away with one glass very occasionally but god help me if I had another one the next night. I really miss it too!!
I cannot tolerate alcohol at all! We were out earlier in the week for my daughter’s birthday, it was a nice day (joints were already causing havoc due to the heat) and I got a Pimms (stupidly as I know it causes me to feel so rubbish but it was a one off treat) and I am now in a flare and feeling awful. Whilst it was nice at the time, yes I now regret it! I don’t drink unless socially like that occasion
Ah there's nothing quite like a Pimm's too!
Alcohol and me do not get along at all since I became unwell with RD.Fortunately I have no taste at all for it, so it is not a problem.
You don't report being on anything that will protect your joints? I hope that you are taking something other than prednisolone and naproxen!I've given up alcohol altogether. My liver function tests are easily upset and then I have to have more blood tests and it's just not worth the short-lived pleasure.
If you google Naproxen it does say it decreases its effectiveness with alcohol. I only looked it up thought I remembered this coming up before so might be a well known side effect.
Oh that's very interesting, thank you! I've found the naproxen quite effective otherwise
Initially I was ok with alcohol...but I only drink on occasion anyway...So long story short ..about 6 months ago we went to a brunch with friends and I had two very, very strong passion fruit margaritas. You would think, fruity drink, eh what's the big deal. No, I was super buzzed and although could walk, but no way could I drive. When the buzz finally wore off BY EVENING, it was like I was hit by a bus, and the same the next day. I was so mad at myself thinking I had regressed into a flare...but thankfully it didn't last more than 2 days. So it kinda scared the hell outta me. I think I'll pass on drinks from now on. But I do take a nice sip from my husband's beer weekly. That seems to be fine with my RA.
Are you ok with other alcohol? I ask as it could be the wheat. I don’t tolerate any alcohol well these days but also find that wheat and sugar cause me to flare up, and of course a shandy would be both
Oh that's super interesting, I actually suspect that even alcohol free beer sometimes causes me migraines... Maybe it would make sense if my joints didn't like it either. Thank you for suggesting sugar, I had kind of suspected that sugar might be making the pain worse but I've never heard of that before
I love red wine and I can get away with a reasonably large glass but if I have much more, the following day my inflammation levels are high and my hands are agony with other joints sore too. I also feel the effects very quickly . Oddly this was one of first things that happened before I was diagnosed. I had joint pain fatigue etc but bloods were ok. I couldn’t understand why I’d have a G and T and become drunk while everyone else was normal. 🙄
I stopped drinking years ago after going on holiday and wondering why I felt so crap every day, aching joints and muscles. Realised it was because I was having wine with my meals each day, not just on a weekend so stopped drinking. I occasionally have a drink for special occasions Christmas etc and have to say it has been such a beneficial move for me.
Interesting to read the replies. I have tried to avoid alcohol wondering if it affected my symptoms. There are several alcohol free lagers around worth trying. But am now wondering if it is better to try gluten free beer which generally has some alcohol but no gluten. Will see.....
Hi thereI am on methotrexate and Dmards and Biologics. I too like a tipple now and again and especially whilst cooking. I do not relate to any affects from alcohol linked to any drugs I am on or to any flares, which are well controlled due to excellent management from my consultant. However I am twice your age and generally tolerance for alcohol and the ‘hungover’ feeling the next day increase with age. Nowadays I do not deny myself a glass of wine or a G and T with friends, but limit to one glass unless I am eating at same time. If at home alone I always have either a snack or nibbles whilst enjoying a single glass of one or the other . I can manage this without any after effects next day. We are all so differ
I simply avoid alcohol because it makes me feel dreadful. I occasionally have a few sips of something but never more than half a glass full. The medicines I take say I should not drink alcohol and I know why! But also RA is not good after a drink.
I've always loved my wine but it's so easy to drink the whole bottle. I always add quite a lot of soda to white wine and try vodka, lime and soda when out.Having lots of water added does seem to help a bit.
I’m the same. If I drink n the evening the next morning I hurt. If I have a drink around 6, just 1 drink, I seem to be fine. Weird.
Hi there I don't find hand pain any different but I just feel ill now after half a glass of wine so don't drink anymore.
I used to like a drink or several before I got RA but since I started mxt 19 years ago, I haven't had a drink. Too worried about toxicity with the combination of alcohol and mxt. I value my liver.
Hi there, the crux of the matter is that alcohol is in effect a poison and another toxin that the body has to work hard to remove. I’ve always been told that alcohol isn’t conducive to the healing process and finally after years of thinking about it, I finally gave up drinking in January. Best thing I ever did following my diagnosis 12 years ago.
I haven’t felt better in years and I no longer have any aches or flares. You have to do what feels right for you and there is of course there’s the old saying of a little of what you like now and again won’t do you harm. I used to say that too but won’t turn back now. You have to remember that alcohol’s also inflammatory so it doesn’t really go hand in hand with RA.
I have to add that it isn’t just alcohol I’ve removed from my diet however my previously aggressive RA is now a thing of the past due to the changes I’ve made.
Good luck with your choices and follow what your gut tells you. I ignored my intuition for years and finally on listening I now have my life back and am returning to a role in emergency services soon.
RA can be overcome with the right mindset and lifestyle choices ☺️
Yes, half a lager will give me problems the next day - pain, swelling and stiffness in my hands. I think it depends on what you drink - beer/lager is particularly bad (for me) for creating inflammation. Next is flat white wine. I can tolerate a glass but if I drink a few glasses in one day or over a couple of days, the same thing happens. A number of people have told me this happens to them if they drink NZ sauvignon blanc which contains pollen but not with other flat white - as I don't drink white much I have not yet found out.
I am absolutely fine with red wine and can drink a bottle or more regularly. It does contain an anti-inflammatory. I am fine with sparkling wine and champagne - drinking a few glasses regularly or a few per day in succession. I assume the alcohol evaporates quickly with champagne but I don't really know why.
Just wondering what meds you are on?
I am injecting Enbrel twice a week and feel great but I am finding that after red wine I feel sleepy. Also my CPR runs high and I wonder if that is my bubbles and red???
Hello Snotts, it's interesting what everyone has said, I find now that I can tolerate a glass of red wine, now and then and a G&T every so often but that about it, anything else I just feel terrible, itchy ears, throat, sore joints for a couple of days. ☹ shame as I like a glass of something, but it's not worth feeling rubbish afterwards. Hope your feeling better now.
Hi, I love a glass of wine (or several) but it causes my face and hands to swell and I’ve started getting headaches the next day even with 2 glasses. I also get more joint pain if I drink more frequently. I’m starting to think I should stop drinking, esp looking at everybody else’s responses but I used to drink regularly without difficulty when my RA was more under control. Maybe I need a break for a while until I start doing better again (I’m still recovering from a major flare after the Covid vaccine).
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